Kilkee to host Irish Chamber Orchestra

THE Irish Chamber Orchestra is taking to the road and will be at Senan’s Church in Kilkee on July 12, as part of a tour that will also include visits to Birr, Clonmel and Kilkenny.

They will have a programme spanning five centuries. Pachelbel’s Canon is one of the most popular baroque compositions from the 17th Century. Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro is an example of his descriptive 19th century string writing. It is often referred to as his Welsh theme inspired by folk tunes, heard whilst holidaying in Wales. The ever-popular Souvenir de Florence illustrates the composer’s songful, flirtatious and beguiling compositional style. Working its way back to the 21st century, the orchestra performs Ian Wilson’s In fretta, in vento, a single movement work bound up with ideas of loss and remembrance, particularly in relation to the 9/11 attacks.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra is one of the country’s foremost cultural ambassadors. As well as performing a concert season in Limerick and Dublin (September-April) the orchestra tours the country every year. The orchestra has toured with great success across Europe, Australia, South Korea, China, Singapore and America.

London-born violinist Katherine Hunka is leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and regularly directs from the leader’s chair. She has toured Ireland and China and performed in Berlin. She is a regular chamber musician and soloist in Ireland and has given premiere performances with a number of Irish and British orchestras. As a soloist, she has performed in London’s Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and Southbank Centre.